Almost all the thoughts I have on any subject are the result of writing in my diary and journals, then questioning myself and working through alternate ways of thinking about it, and finally returning to the subject days or months later with a clear head and updated thoughts, seeing how they’ve changed or not over time.

If you haven’t already heard me raving about Hardcore History and Dan Carlin then you’re about to :)

Hardcore History is the world’s slowest podcast.
The Accidental Tech Podcast, a topical weekly Apple news podcast that i listen to, started in 2013 and as of today, 16th January, 2019 is now on episode 308.
Hardcore History, on the other hand, began its run in 2005 and is now on episode 65.
I just checked the feed and Dan averages a measly two episodes a year.

In truth however, it makes very little sense to look at them as podcast episodes.
Think of them as books. Medium length audiobooks.
And then it suddenly makes sense.
A book a year.
An engaging history book, a year.
For free!

Not that you’ll want to just stick to free anyhoo.
Dan is superengaging and like so many folks say he makes history come alive.

The Asia-Pacific War of 1937-1945 has deep roots.
It also involves a Japanese society that’s been called one of the most distinctive on Earth.
If there were a Japanese version of Captain America, this would be his origin story.

When people ask us how we fund our operations around here, I usually tell them about our “global street performer” business model.
A long time ago I realized that there's probably not a whole lot of meaningful difference between what I do and what a violin player who finds a nice location on a street corner somewhere, opens up his/her violin case and begins playing does.
We are both relying on “passers-by” throwing a few coins into the instrument case (or baseball cap as the case may be, haha) to keep us going.
Of course, I work a very busy, global “street corner” (virtually speaking, right?).

I want to thank you for taking the time to both listen to the work that
we do, and to contribute to our ability to keep doing it. It's a cliché, but we really WOULDN'T be able to do this without the audience's help and support.
Not just in terms of finances, but also by telling others about the shows and spreading the word to help us grow the listenership. You all have been awesome.

So thank you from all of us (and from the other listeners who enjoy the work as well, but can't afford to help right now).
If everyone did as you did, we'd never have to stop doing this.

If you want to build a habit, this is the definitive book on the topic. 1
You could read about habits in other books, to learn more, but if you actually want to be building them, look no further.

This was the first book in a long time that moved me to actually take action.
Succint, pithy and packed with advice, there isn’t a wasted word in its 300 odd pages.
And unlike other, it does not feel like three-hundred-pages.
Moving from introduction to positing its arguments to tactical advice to conclusion, this feels more like a fast paced novel.